Thinking of Buying a Home in Ridgewood?
Here are 2 Ridgewood-Specific home buying mistakes to avoid and below is a document outlining 10 general mistakes to avoid. Armed with this info you will have a better chance of getting a good deal on your Ridgewood Dream Home.
1. Do you really have to be within walking distance of Ridgewood’s Downtown?
Finding a home within walking distance of Ridgewood’s Downtown is at, or near, the top of many buyer’s wish lists. Being able to walk to town and to the Ridgewood train station is a huge benefit. That said, before you let this drive your home buying decision be sure to ask yourself “How often will I really walk to town?”
I have found that most buyers, including the one writing this blog, overestimate how much they will walk to town. I wouldn’t trade my home on Colonial Road for anything. I love my home and my neighborhood and I have the greatest neighbors in the world. However, I have to admit that I can count on 2 hands how many times I have actually walked to Ridgewood’s downtown even though I am only a few blocks away. Yet, being within walking distance of downtown was a “must-have” when I bought my home.
2. Are you looking for a termite-free home?
If so, please keep driving right past the Ridgewood exit. Don’t let these creepy crawlers scare you away from the charming old Ridgewood Colonial you’ve dreamed about. Nearly every Ridgewood home inspection I have been involved in has turned up some form of termite damage. So, if you want that beautiful old Ridgewood Tudor, you are going to have to face down the termite menace.
Don’t get me wrong, termite infestation and/or termite damage are serious issues that cannot be ignored. However, before you cut and run at the first mention of termites, you should hire a certified wood destroying insect inspector (who also has an exterminator’s license) to assess the termite issue. If there is existing damage you should also call in a qualified contractor to determine what can be done to fix the damage and what it will cost. Once you have all facts you can then determine if you should walk away or fix the damage and move forward.
Who should pay to fix the termite damage and/or treat the infestation is a topic for another post…
Click the icon below to view more detail on mistakes #1- #5 and to see mistakes #6 -#10.
1. Chosing the wrong agent.
2. Making an offer without the proper pre-approval.
3. Not knowing ALL the costs involved.
4. Limiting your search to open houses, the Internet, etc.
5. Thinking there is only one perfect home for you.
List is courtesy of Buffini & Co.
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Home inspections are critical
What To Expect: Many New Jersey home buyers sometimes buy their home in New Jersey on impulse. Experianced home inspectors can help home buyers avoid buyers remorse by reporting on home defects and problems before the home buyer finds them after closing. As professional New Jersey Home inspectors we at Accurate Inspections, provide our New Jersey home inspection clients with the tools they need to make an educated choice regarding the quality and condition of their potential new home. We inspect for common defects and not so common ones. By hiring an experienced NJ Licensed home inspectors who has your best interest solely in mind, our clients are better able to judge the strengths and weaknesses of the home in which they are under contract to buy. We will inspect the structure, exterior, drainage, grounds, roof, plumbing, electric, heating, thermostats, ac, interior and fireplace the municipality will inspect the smoke alarms in New Jersey. We will provide New Jersey home maintenance suggestions.
Buyers Benefits: A professional New Jersey home inspection is the best way for potential home buyers to effectively evaluate the risks of a property purchase. A major concern of NJ home buyers is being suddenly confronted with major and costly problems after they take possession of a property. A professional pre-purchase home inspection can reduce anxiety by screening for problems and itemizing them in a comprehensive report. This home inspection report may include approximations of repair costs and recommendations of useful upgrades to the property systems. The general result of a professional home inspection is that property buyers make significantly more informed purchases.
Screening for Problems: All homes have strong and weak points, they are not always what they seem. Gain the perspective and sound information you need to make better decisions with a home inspection performed by an experienced professional home inspectors. A good home inspectors works through a very long checklist of potential concerns to identify the major and minor deficiencies in the home. A good report will clearly describe the problems and illustrate them along with the what-to and how-to of repairs.
Provide Owners Benefits: Home owners who are planning to make improvements to their homes in order to increase its market value would be well advised to have it inspected first. A home inspectors can help prioritize home improvements and offer advice on the best ways to approach repairs. More importantly, an inspectors can help the seller identify potential or undiscovered problems before those problems become material for contract contingencies. By taking a pro-active approach one can avoid the frustrations many owners encounter when they are asked to re-negotiate their contracts because of unanticipated problem areas.
Credentials: Like any other professional, home inspectors (even those with licenses) have varied degrees of expertise. All home inspectors should be carefully screened. Inspectors learn from experience. It takes a few thousand inspections and a more than a few complaints for a home inspectors to LEARN what it takes to satisfy clients. I spent seven years as a construction contractor prior to becoming a home inspectors in 1993. I have taught the New Jersey home inspection training class to new inspectors for a few years. I still see things I have never seen before. Would you want the biggest investment of your life inspected by a person who took a three week training class? RECENTLY PASSED LEGISLATION ALLOWS NEW JERSEY HOME INSPECTORS TO BE LICENSED WITH AS LITTLE AS THREE WEEKS OF CLASS ROOM TRAINING AND JUST ONE WEEK IN ACTUAL HOMES. LICENSING IS A MINIMUM QUALIFICATION. MAKE SURE YOU ASK FOR RESUME!